Speakers

Whitney Breaux is an accomplished communications, marketing and sales strategist with significant experience in political communication, public relations and social media. Her strengths include customer relationship management, networking and integrated communication/marketing campaigns. The ultimate multitasker, Whitney was recognized by the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report as a rising business leader and a Top 40 Under 40 recipient in 2010 at age 22.

At Eli Lilly and Company, she works as Global Brand Manager – Diabetes Marketing. Whitney was founder and executive director of the Baton Rouge Social Media Association and a consultant for the startup of the Alabama Social Media Association.

Jason Falls is one of the leading thinkers in the digital marketing, social media, public relations and communications industries. He is also a noted public speaker and social media keynote speaker.

Based in Louisville, Ky., Jason has the unique perspective of having led a national advertising agency’s interactive and social media efforts, worked with Fortune 100 brands as a social media strategist and served as an independent consultant in the social media industry. He leads strategy for Elasticity, an innovative digital agency. In his previous roles as a consultant and agency-side advisor, he worked with major, regional and niche brands including Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, Humana, SHPS, Mighty Dog, Louisville Slugger and the National Center for Family Literacy.

He is the founder and former CEO of Social Media Explorer, consistently rated among the most-read blogs on the subject matter in the world.

She can be found locally on ABC 33/40 and on CBS Radio News, a 400-station network. Donna serves as a guest writer for the Radio Television Digital News Association’s “Communicator Daily” and writes a monthly column for the Alabama Media Professionals newsletter. Francavilla also enjoys freelance TV producing for CBS News and for “Oprah: Where Are They Now?”

Director Taylor Robinson is the owner of Six Foot Five Productions, a full-service commercial and film production company in Birmingham. A West Texas native, he has crafted campaigns for many faith-based organizations such as Compassion International, Radical, LifeWay and along with other organizations such as the United States Olympic Committee. Taylor is also one of the co-creators and hosts of a thriving live storytelling event called Arc Stories.

James Spann is chief meteorologist for Birmingham’s ABC 33/40, joining 1 month after the station signed on in 1996. In all, he has been a TV weather anchor for 38 years.

The American Meteorological Society gave him the 2013 Award for Broadcast Meteorology. The National Weather Association named him Broadcaster of the Year in 2012.

Readers of Birmingham Magazine voted James as Best TV Personality in 2011, and Best Tweeter in 2012. He has been named Best TV Personality multiple times by readers of the Birmingham News in its annual polls.